8 Free Photo Editor for Raw Files on Desktop and Mobile

Raw, unprocessed files have become crucial for photographers, offering higher-quality images with more flexibility for post-processing. However, to unlock their full potential, a raw file editor is necessary to adjust the images by adding creativity. Although many professional-grade editors come with a high price, plenty of free tools are available for desktop and mobile.

In this article, you will explore the best paid and free photo editor for raw files for different platforms, offering powerful features for every level of photographer!

Part 1: Top 4 Free Photo Editors for Raw Files in Desktop

For desktop users, raw files require specialized software to handle large, high-quality images while offering advanced editing tools. Below are four of the best photo editor for raw files.

1. RawTherapee

Raw Therapee is a free, cross-platform raw file editor that offers advanced customization options to create stunning photos. It supports raw files from a range of digital cameras. Its key features include HDR tone mapping, deep exposure colour correction, bar graph matching, noise reduction, and a selection of other enhancement tools, giving users full control over their image adjustments.

2. Darktable

Darktable is another free, open-source, photography processing workflow software designed for editing raw files. It also supports standard, raw, and high-dynamic range image formats. You can use it either as a beginner-level photo editor or as high-end software. It offers professional colour management and correction tools, such as chromatic aberrations, an equalizer, highlights reconstruction, and more.

3. digiKam

digiKam is a professional photo management and editing tool that supports raw image file editing with powerful functionalities like exposure correction, white balance adjustment, noise reduction, face recognition, and metadata tagging. It also supports exporting the images directly to the cloud and social media platforms. This lightweight program can even be used to manage extensive image libraries.

4. PhotoDemon

PhotoDemon is a fast and free photo editor that offers various tools for editing raw files. It provides an intuitive interface with 200+ professional-grade tools, including layers, shadow/highlight recovery, fill and resize, and lens correction. It also supports image file formats like PSP, PSD, and XCF. Its portability makes it a convenient option for quick fixes and basic adjustments.

Part 2: Top 4 Raw File Editors in Mobile Device

If you want to edit your raw files on the go, a free raw file editor for mobile phones can be a lifesaver. Let’s explore the four best mobile apps with their pros and cons:

1. Snapseed

Snapseed is a professional, free raw photo editor developed by Google with a user-friendly interface. It supports editing raw files with a wide array of tools, including double exposure, white balance, lens blur, colour adjustments, healing, and filters. So you can easily achieve high-quality results on a mobile or tablet.

2. VSCO

VSCO is a well-known video and photo editor for Android, iPhone, and Windows users. It offers raw file editing capabilities to adjust your images on the go. You can elevate your photos with a set of professionally designed filters. With basic editing tools for quick fixes, its advanced features help you remove objects, apply effects, adjust exposure, colour correction, etc.

3. Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Adobe Lightroom Mobile is a free photo editor for raw files that offers professional-grade capabilities. It lets you edit, organize, and share your photos with high precision and synchronizes seamlessly with the desktop version. You can access selective exposure control, colour correction, and other tools to get HDR images with well-balanced highlights and shadows.

4. Pixlr

For those who prefer using a raw file editor online, Pixlr should be the way to go. This comprehensive AI photo editing tool supports both raw and standard image formats. It offers different creative tools like filters, layers, and overlays. You can also use adjustment features for exposure, colour correction, B&W, HDR, colour balance, curves, shadows, etc.

Part 3: Bonus tip: How to Convert Raw Files to JPG on Windows & Mac

If you’re seeking an easy way to convert raw images to JPG for easier sharing and quick edits, HitPaw Univd is a comprehensive solution. This professional multimedia software offers a wide variety of editing, compression, and conversion features, including an Image Converter. With its simple and user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly convert your raw files to an accessible format like JPG. It also supports multiple image formats for conversion, including WEBP, BMP, TIFF, etc. You can even enjoy quick processing with high-quality results.

Main Features:

• Offer an easy UI with intuitive controls to convert image files
• Allow you to convert a lot of images in a batch to save time
• Provide speedy conversions, ideal for large image collections
• Lossless image conversion to deliver the best quality output
• Basic editing and compression features to adjust your image

How to Convert Raw to JPG using HitPaw Univd:

First of all, launch the software and go to the “Home” section. Now, select “Photo” and click the “Image Converter” tool.

Next, press the “Add image” tab to upload the required raw images for conversion. You can also tap any image to preview it.

It’s time to expand the “Convert all to” drop-down menu and choose “JPG” as the output format. Also, select the destination folder.

Lastly, press the “Convert” or “Convert All” button to start the Raw to JPG conversion. It will take some time, and that’s it!

Part 4: FAQs about RAW File Editor

Conclusion

Raw files provide unparalleled quality, but to make the most out of them, you need a powerful editor. Fortunately, the free raw file editor options in this guide can process your images effectively. However, if you want to convert your raw files to JPG or other image formats, HitPaw Univd Image Converter stands out for its fast and efficient conversion. Try this software and convert your images seamlessly.